Convertible chair and couch.



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Patented May 3, 1910.

. fiel" H. TIEDEMANN da J. U. CLARKE. CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND GOUGH.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 25, 1909.

956,837. i Patented May 3, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

HENRY TIEDEMANN, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, AND JAMES UBER CLARKE, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NORS 0F ONE-THIRD TO EMIL GUEN'IHER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID CLARKE ASSIGNOR TO JACOB JARDEN GUENTHER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND COUCH.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Application filed June 25, 1909. Serial No. 504,232.

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that we, HENRY TIEDEMANN and JAMES UBER CLARKE, citizens of the United States, the former residing in the city and county of Camden, State of New Jersey, and the latter residing in the city and county of Philadel hia, State of Pennsylvania, have inventec a new and useful Convertible Chair and Couch, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to a new and useful convertible chair and couch and more particularly to the type of chair known as a Morris or reclining back `chair and has for an object to provide a chair of ordinary appearance havin a movable back and sides, which may be withdrawn from the body portion thereof and extended to form a bed or couch of suitable length for the purpose intended.

It has for a further object to provide a chair with a secret or closed compartment in which linen and the like may be stored, the said compartment being readily accessible for the removal of anything placed therein.

It has for a further object to provide a combination chair and couch, the parts of which are so arranged and constructed that the joints of the movable sides are hidden at all times and are held in assembled closed position through the medium of a novel locking means of such a nature that by a simple manipulation thereof the moving parts may be quickly released and the device transformed from a chair into a couch.

In couch chairs as heretofore constructed, it has been proposed to utilize a number of telescoping members for effecting the change from one position to another, but in practice such means have been found impractical, since they do not permit the correct positioning of the mattress and subject the same to wear and the like. Furthermore, such devices have had nosimple and eilicient means of locking the parts together and the entire structures have been exceedingly complicated and impractical.

In our present invention We have devised a simple and efficient combination well adapted for all purposes of ordinary use and in which the mattress is supported evenly and accurately. Furthermore, the locks for holding the parts securely together may be oprated quickly kand evenly for the desired en It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention we have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by us, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which our invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that our invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective of a chair embodying our invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 represents a detail section of one of the locking members. Fi 4 represents an end view of the same. Fig. 5 represents a sectional detail of a locking member used in connection with the back of the chair. Fig. 6 represents a plan of the chair transformed into a couch. Fig. 7 represents a section of one of the detachable slats, showing the means of connecting the same to the chair body. Fig. 8 represents a perspective of one end thereof. Fig. 9 represents a detail of a cooperating part. Fig. 10 represents a perspective of a stop device. Fig. 11 represents the same in operative posltion.

Similar numerals of reference corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings z-l designates the body portion of the chair embodying our invention, the same being supported on legs 2 and provided with a back frame 3, serving the usual purpose of a chair back. In the present instance the back 3 is provided with a hinge 4L at each side in order that the same may be swung from one position to another so that the person occupying the chair may assume a reclining position, if desired. In order to securely lock the back 3 in a lixed substantially upright posi* tion, we preferably provide the body portion l with a recess 5, in which is located a catch 6 suitably pivoted at 7 and having a stem 8 extending so that it is within reach of anyone desiring to unlock the back and here indicate shown as projecting from a slot 9 in the butt of the hinge 4. The back 3 is provided with a recess 10 to receive the catch 6 and for the purpose of preventing undue wear of the catch on the frame a pair of plates 11 are provided, forming a rigid connection with the catch.

12 designates a spring or the like, suitably supported in the recess 5 and engaging the catch 6 to hold the same normally in locked position, as seen in Fig. 5. If it is desired to release the catch it is only necessary to press the stem 8 in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 5, thus overcoming the tension of the spring 12 and withdrawing the catch 10 from the plate 11.

13 designates a compartment formed' in the body portion 1, wherein articles such as cushions, bed linen or the like, used in connection with the chair, may be stored and since the compartment is provided with a nished front or door 14, it is normally concealed from view. The door 14 is suitably hinged at 15 and may be raised as shown in Fig. 2, so that access to the interior thereof may be gained.

16 designates a plurality of slats or the like, secured preferably in a fixed manner by screws 17 or the like to the body portion 1, thereby forming the seat of the chair and it will be noted that the same are suitably spaced apart to permit coperation with similar slats 18, which are secured to the side frames 19 of the chair, the said side frames carrying thereon an arm 20 and legs 21, as will readily appear, the device when in assembled position having every appearance of an ordinary chair of the Morris or other type, as .the case may be.

In order to insure accurate alinement and free sliding movement of the several slats 18 with respect to the stationary slats 16, a suitable tongue and groove joint 22 is formed between them, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 6. It will thus be apparent that when the side frames 19 are brought together in closed position in contact with the body portion 1, the slats 18 having filled the spaces between, the slats 16 will form a substantially solid level seat, on which may be positioned cushions, as is customary. Attention is especially directed to this feature of maintaining the same level for the stationary and movable slat members, as thereby when the chair is in open or closed position there will'be no inequalities produced to form ridges in the mattress, making an uncomfortable, uneven surface for use.

It will be noted that when the chair is in extended position, as shown in Fig. 6,`

l here shown, have a plate 24 suitably secured by screws 25 or the like to one end and provided with a tongue or head 26, which latter is adapted to coperate with a slot 27 of a plate 28 suitably secured to the frame 1, it being noted that the said frame is provided with a recess 29 for the purpose. On the end of the slat 23 opposite to the plate 25, in the present instance, is a pin 30 flxedly mounted therein and projecting a suflicient distance to engage an opening 31 in the frame 1. It will be clear when the side frames 19 are pulled out to open position that the lhead 26 may be inserted within the slot 27 and the slat dropped down so that the pin y30 lengages the opening 31., thus securing the same in position.

32 designates a plate here shown as hav-` ing an integral projection 33 thereon, serving the purpose of a stop to limit the. outward movement of the side frames 19. This plate 32 fits within a cut-away portion 34 of one or more of the slats, while the pin 33 projects through an opening 35 of the slat and abuts the body portion 1. vThe side frames 19 are held in normal or chairposition by means of a locking member, consisting as here shown of a hook member 36, suitably pivoted at 37 to each side frame 19, the said member 36 having an end bearing 38, with which the head 39 of a plunger 40 is adapted to engage. This plunger 40 is maintained in the position shown in Fig. 3, with the hook 36 in locking engagement through the medium of a spring 41 coperating at one end with the head 42 of the plunger 40 and at the other end abutting a block 48 secured to a bushing 49 having a flanged end 50.

The hook 36 in locked position engages the plate 43 secured to the body portion 1 in order to form a gripping and bearing surface and preferably passes through a slot 44 of the main frame and projects from the interior of the frame 13. The parts of this locking device are so positioned in the side frames 19 as to locate the head 42 of each plunger practically flush with the side frame, for the purpose of neatness, simplicity and concealment.

45 designates a bracket having a series of recesses 46 therein, which are adapted to receive a rod 47 passing along the back of the back frame 3 and serving as a support for the back in the different positions, as is usual in this type of chair.

In Fig. 1 the combination chair is shown i in its normal position and by moving the rod 47 from one position to another, the chair back 3 may be shifted to give a variety of reclining positions, as desired.

The operation of forming a couch of the chair consists in first remo-ving the rod 47 and shifting the back 3 to substantially upright position with the catch 6 gripping .the

same to lock the parts together. Of course it will be understood, if desired, the back instead of being locked in raised position may be swung back and rest on the fioor or other suitable support. The locking hooks 36 are next released by pushing inward on the plunger 40 and simultaneously pulling the sides out to the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby forming a bed or couch of usual length and of sufficient size to form a comfortable support. It will of course be understood that the stops 33 are placed in position before the sides have been withdrawn to their full length, thus preventing the parts becoming entirely Withdrawn. The auxiliary slats 23 are of course placed in position, as already described and serve to complete the slat support for the mattress and prevent the latter from sagging at the sides.

It will now be apparent that we have devised a new and useful combination couch and chair, simple in construction, efcient in operation and capable of being readily changed from one position to the other and in which the use of cumbersome telescopic members is dispensed with and the conseplient injury to the mattress, cushions or the In so far as we are aware we are the first to devise the combination of a chair having an adjustable back for reclining purposes and extension sides for transforming the chair into a couch, a compartment for concealing linen and the like, and a novel locking means for maintaining the parts in assembled position.

It wi1l now be apparent that we have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description and while we have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a chair, the combination of a body having a compartment therein, a door for said compartment forming the front of said body, an adjustable back hinged to said body7 means to lock said back in one position, a plurality of side frames, slats 0n each side frame spaced apart and adapted to interfit with said body portion to form a supporting surface in substantially the same horizontal plane, and a lock for securing said side frames to said body portion.

2. In a chair, the combination of a body portion having a plurality of slats therein spaced apart, a plurality of side frame slats on each side frame adapted to interfit with said body portion slats, means to lock said side frames to said body portion, a detachable slat for each side frame, and means to secure said detachable slat in position when said side frames are in extended position.

3. In a chair, the combination of a body portion having a plurality of slats therein spaced apart, a plurality of side frame slats on each side frame adapted to interfit with said body portion slats, means to lock said sido frames to said body portion, a stop to limit the movement of each side frame, a detachable slat for each side frame, and a back hinged to said body portion and means to support said back in different positions.

HENRY TIEDEMANN. JAMES UBER CLARKE. Vitnesses:

ROBERT M. BARR, C. D. MCVAY. 

